What is recorded here

Ormsby lost the place after holding it, while Ingoldesbye took it back later. The castle itself stopped resisting weather long before either man arrived. What remains is a flat scar in the field, visible only when grain grows unevenly across the old wall line.

Skool Castle and bawn (LI022-106001-) described by Westropp (1906-7, 187) as following; 'Alleged by Dyneley to have been built by King John (R.S.A.I.,ix., p. 197). 1583 The Earl of Desmond held Awney Manor "duobus lez Sculles in p'orhia de hospital" (Des. R., 3b). 1612 J. Stritch held the C[astle], bawn, water-mill, and two weirs at 'ambo skules," in fee; his son W. succeeded (Inq. Chan., Car. I., No. 89). 1624 Sir W. Parsons held the two Skulls, late estate of Alderman W. Stritch (Pat. R.). 1639 James held the C[astle], bawn, and mills, "in duobus Skules" (Inq. Chan., 234). 1657 C[astle]. held by W. Hurley. 1666 Scuill and Ballyneety confirmed to Capt. A. Ormsby. 1680 Capt. Ingoldesbye held it. Fabric. - Almost levelled; only parts of the north and south walls, 10 feet [3m] and 22 [7m] feet high, stood in 1840 (O.S.L., 8, p. 378)'. Tower House like structure depicted on the 1654-7 Down Survey map of Fedamore Parish (NLI, Ms 718). The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that on the lands of William Stretch late of Limerick there stood in Scoole 'a Castle, a Mill Seate [LI022-106002-] & 8 Cabbins' (Simington 1938, 107). Cropmarks of levelled castle and bawn (LI022-106001-) visible on OSi aerial photographs. The cropmarks are barely visible today on Digital Globe aerial photographs. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 2 March 2020

The castle at Skoolhill was allegedly built by King John, according to local tradition cited by Dyneley, and was later held by the Earl of Desmond in 1583; it is remembered for its association with medieval Irish noble families and its mention in historical land records.

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